Europeans played sports, since they believed sports instilled unity and cooperation in the public. The majority of society in Europe during this time consisted of the proletariat. As mentioned by Sir Robert Baden-Powell, a British general, society …show more content…
The culmination of World War I, formed new countries. Miroslav Tyrs, mentions that “this new race will not depend on foreigners for its rights” meaning that the Czechs are a nation-state and they can do whatever they please. Tyrs also encourages national pride, since they were part of the Austrian-Hungarian government and could not voice their opinions there. Similarly, Prince Leopold of Belgium wanted to show other nations that his country had potential by colonizing areas in Africa. German journalist, Martin Berner, mentions the relationship between politics and sports by saying that sports are “a real war” and that they create an inclination to support the “fatherland.” Berner is biased, because he wants Germany to succeed and goes so far to even say that sports give an “insight into world rankings.” However, the Germans miss the point by being too nationalistic. Likewise, an African delegate to South Africa compared sports to politics. He believed that Africans were individualistic and hence enjoyed cricket, but they should learn unity by playing rugby. Since he is a politician, he would want to create a united African Association. The British government even used sports propaganda to recruit soldiers for World War I. They convinced young men to join the war by showcasing a future camaraderie with soldiers, and claimed that war was a “game.” Despite the many political views about sports, it …show more content…
Spartans learned how to fight as a cohesive unit against armies. They used a strategic formation known as the phalanx, in which they created an unbreakable defense by moving together and working with each other. Similarly, the competitive nature of sports brought people together, so they could win and it taught them the need for unity in society. Due to the growth of Spartans in a “warrior society,” physical strength and health were significant to the citizens. They trained, since only the best of the best survived. Sports allowed people to stay in shape, because of the physical activity that they completed. Due to their cohesive and physical army, Spartans conquered many neighboring cities and made a name for themselves in Ancient Greece. Countries used sports to showcase the potential of their state and to “conquer” over other